Thomas Jefferson's Unalienable Rights

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
These words are considered to be some of the most important words ever uttered or written in the English language by man. These words forge bridges between philosophy and politics, all while expressing the core values of the American government. Jefferson wanted to ensure that he made known the preponderance of the inherent rights of the American people and the protection of those rights. Unalienable rights are rights that are given to us at birth by God, these rights can not be taken away by man or government.The “unalienable rights” that Jefferson cites as being endowed by our creator are life,liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Many criticize government for often times contradicting themselves and ignoring our “unalienable rights”. Even at the time of the writing of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson and other members of the Second Continental Congress owned
plantations and were slaveholders. How can a government speak of equality and acknowledge all men God given rights while allowing the forcing of someone against their will to be the chattel of another person. It is one thing for our government to acknowledge our “unalienable rights” but it is another for them to actually take the initiative to protect these rights. To ensure these unalienable rights government must first tackle any inequality present within the framework of system. I affirm that social justice should be pursued to diminish the social disparities. The overall pursuit of Social Justice would accomplish the intended goal of the government to protect the God given or unalienable rights of the people. Social Justice is justice in reference to the equal dissemination of opportunities and wealth within society. According to, the author of Teaching Diversity and Social Justice , Anne Lee Bell says social justice is a goal and a process. “The goal of social justice is full and equitable participation of people from all social identity groups in society that is mutually shaped to meet their needs. The process for obtaining the goal of social justice should be democratic and participatory respectful of human diversity and group differences and inclusive and affirming of human agency and capacity for working collaboratively with others to create change.” Social justice embodies genuine equality, fairness and respect among peoples.
The pursuit of social justice and protecting each person’s unalienable rights are necessary in the quest of fulfilment of one’s potential.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs asserts that there are stages or levels that humans generally navigate through in order to reach that optimum height. These stages include physiological needs, safety, love or having a feeling of belonging, esteem, and self-actualization .The less social justice present then the more difficult it is for someone to reach the stage of self-actualization. Social justice can have an extreme influence on one’s achievement of physiological needs and safety. Racial, gender, and wage inequalities often make it complicated for people to obtain money for adequate health care, shelter, and food. Lack of social justice also affects one's perception of their place in society and their perception of themselves and
esteem.

Now in this portion of the paper I will address in what ways each unalieble right (mentioned by Jefferson) is encompassed by Social justice.
By the term life Thomas Jefferson not only meant simply being alive or existing. Jefferson was more so referring to the the quality of life. The right to life means the right to lead a meaningful complete and dignified existence .People should have the right to a prosperous life, a healthy life, and a comfortable life. We must be either provided or offered access to the things we need to further survive. For instance we have the right to clean water, the right to adequate shelter , access to clean air free from harsh toxins, and access to food. Through the pursuit of social justice we are further granted the right of life. Social justice often promotes procedural and distributive justice. As mentioned before, the presence of social justice influences often the basic ability to obtain a job and one’s wages that they earn in order to provide necessities . For example, in the United States African American’s are often discriminated against in the work force. In a study done, it was found that white-sounding names receive fifty percent more callbacks for interviews. In addition, compared to Whites, African-Americans are twice as likely to be unemployed and earn nearly 25 percent less when they are employed (Council of Economic Advisers, 1998). This exemplifies the differential treatment by race that is obviously still present in our government. These differences imposes on African American’s ability to acquire a substantial amount income. Without a decent income one can not purchase food, obtain adequate shelter, or receive sufficient healthcare. These things are essential for our survival. Liberty is considered to be the act of being free . It is having the power the power to do as one pleases, freedom from physical restraint, freedom from arbitrary or despotic control, the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privilege and the power of choice. Liberty can be closely linked and associated with the terms freedom and justice.
“Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.” — Thomas Jefferson
This quote by Thomas Jefferson implies that liberty is the unobstructed action or free will that allows us to do as we please as long as it doe